Counterterrorism Program Considerations for Public Safety

As part of its First Responder’s Toolbox series, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) have published a document that provides an overview of the options and resources public safety officers and private sector personnel can leverage to enhance terrorism prevention and response at their organizations. WaterISAC encourages its members to review the ideas presented in this document, which pertain to information sharing, assessments and plans, and training and education, and consider implementing them based on jurisdictional, budgetary, and operational factors. Additionally, a table in the document lists numerous resources that organizations can access to help enhance their counterterrorism programs, which includes information for developing and conducting an exercise program (the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, or HSEEP), FEMA’s National Response Framework, and the system of state and major urban area fusion centers.